Click on the 'Forum' in the upper left side,see the technical section "Hutch Transmissions" from London Ontario. Lots of really good reading on where to place a trans temp gauge and other good stuff.
-- Edited by NOVACLONE on Monday 22nd of October 2012 08:25:35 PM
-- Edited by NOVACLONE on Monday 22nd of October 2012 08:25:59 PM
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I bought an engine oil temp gauge one time. I never did install it, but the sender was designed to screw into the oil pan drain plug....I didnt like that idea, probably why I didnt use it. A tranny drain plug might work good as it doesnt have to come in and out so often. Or, you could get a 2nd bung installed in the pan.
The pan that I have has no drain plug. So it looks like it might be something I should look into getting as well as one with a bung added or adding one to the new pan.
Looks like I will be busy this winter with projects for my Hot Rod.
Just curious, why do you feel the need to watch your trans temp? Not making fun here just an honest question. I am not suggesting you don't install it, just that I've never felt the need to install one. For my vehicle that does some light towing, I just added an extra trans cooler (in addition to the one in the rad).
I wouldn't even know what's too hot or too cold as far as a trans goes.
Its a good question! without questions how will we ever learn?
Well. . . The set up that my car has is as follows; Chevy 454, th400 trans with stall converter and ford 9" with 4.11's There is a stand alone trans cooler, but I dont know the full history of the car and how well it works. I plan to drive the car to shows, cruise nights, just for fun and with about 4-5 times per year at the track.
If I am mistaken then please let me know.
My theory is that while just cruising (80-90KPH) the rpm's of the engine are higher than would be in just a cruiser car, so would the extra rpms not generate more heat? So if I had a gauge I would be able to monitor how my drive-line is reacting to the different driving situations I put it through. Last thing I would want is not knowing if I cooked the fluid on my way to the track and run it hard there. Trying to drive home after that might be a phone call to CAA and an expensive repair bill. If I can watch what's happening and do something about it before it becomes an expensive repair that is peace of mind to me. The longevity of the trans oil greatly depends on the operating temperatures and how hot it has gotten durring operation.
Do you have an engine temperature gauge on your car? If you did not how would you know how warm your engine is getting if say your electric fan quit or if your rad was not flowing properly? Thats why I am deciding to install a gauge for my transmission to help protect it and learn what the normal operating temp is so when it does climb I will know.
-- Edited by Rebelrod on Tuesday 23rd of October 2012 04:43:24 PM
OK ! I called my tranny guy on this, because I wasn't sure. The sender goes in the pan, because the oil that's in it just came out of the cooler. He also said that most aftermarket pans come with a bung pre installed specifically for temp senders. So there you have it !! Put it in the pan.
I have that feature in my 2010 Suburban but "never' use it even when towing. I drove my 64 catalina for 8 yrs. with just the hot & cold light in it. Last yr. I installed Guages & now I'm "paranoid" watching the engine temp go UP in traffic!! Never worried about it before, hot light never came on, should have left it that way. Pete
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I have that feature in my 2010 Suburban but "never' use it even when towing. I drove my 64 catalina for 8 yrs. with just the hot & cold light in it. Last yr. I installed Guages & now I'm "paranoid" watching the engine temp go UP in traffic!! Never worried about it before, hot light never came on, should have left it that way. Pete
I was idling, waiting to get into an event at the end of the cruise season. The line up to get in was really long. It took about 25 min of a snails pace. Regardless after the 40 minute drive to get there temp was at 190*F during the 25 min of idling my engine temps were pushing 240*F (what must my Transmission temps have been?) So with that being said I learnd something. Had I not have had my engine temp gauge I would not have known. Now I know that I am having a cooling issue that needs to be addressed before next season. So while I fix that little issue, I will be adding a transmission temp gauge too so that I can monitor that part of my drive-line too.
Idling a transmission is not going to cause it to heat up, working it is....Not the same as with an engine, where the lack of air through the rad heats it up.
Back a number of years ago a friend of mine built a 57 chev into an El camino type and carried a small camper body on it he had also built. He installed a 425 olds/automatic in this.
He had installed the temp sender in the automatic pan, and had even drilled and tapped the rear end and installed one there.
Can't remember the temp figures but it was interesting .
Idling a transmission is not going to cause it to heat up, working it is....Not the same as with an engine, where the lack of air through the rad heats it up.
So then, with the rear end gear ratio that I have in my car that makes the engine rpm's higer than what would be consider normal, that would be making the transmission work harder while I am just cruising the roads.(I did not word my previous senero properly.) Iam I right in my theory? higher rpm's would be simulating either an uphill drive or a towing application?
Ya 4;11's are going to "twist" the engine RPM's up on highway & create the trans. to work a little harder!! if you want some better mileage, then get rid of the 4:11's & go for a higher gear [lower #] ie 3:55 or 3;42's!! Your Big Block has enough torque for any 'mid range gear, even down into the 2's!! Guy here in town has a 69 Cheville BBC 4 gear & can still "light em up" 1st 2nd. & 3rd. with 2:79's out back!! I'm running 2:67's in the rear of 64 Catalina & it will "spin em" in 2nd. gear of turbo 350!! 389V8 with dualquads, Comp Cam 454 lift & still gets 16 MPG on the hwy.
Idling a transmission is not going to cause it to heat up, working it is....Not the same as with an engine, where the lack of air through the rad heats it up.
So then, with the rear end gear ratio that I have in my car that makes the engine rpm's higer than what would be consider normal, that would be making the transmission work harder while I am just cruising the roads.(I did not word my previous senero properly.) Iam I right in my theory? higher rpm's would be simulating either an uphill drive or a towing application?
No ! Assuming you have a non overdrive tranny, when you're in third gear the input and output shaft are spinning at the same speed, because the clutches are locked up. The power is not being transmitted through the planetary gears, therefore the trans doesn't care what RPM it's at.
In theory, the trans should run cooler with a higher gear, because there's less load on the planetary gears. The only time more heat will become an issue if you're putting lots of load on it is in 1st, second, and overdrive (if you have an OD trans) That's why if you're towing a heavy trailer with a newer vehicle, you should always be in drive (not overdrive) Hope I make sense.
OK sorry if I forgot to mention the car its a 49 ford club coupe that's been modified. I did mention what its uses are going to be. I don't have any indication of a transmission issue I just want to be sure that I dont have one or if one is developing I will be aware of it so I can do something about it. There is only the one cooler that is not a part of the radiator. It is remotely located under the body. I am using my phone to respond so if I forgot something let me know.
Thanks for the info on the transmission. Oh and the th400 is only 3 speed transmission.
Hmmm, the trans cooler is mounted "under" the car. Not liking the sound of that. Trans coolers are generally mounted ahead of the radiator and mounted vertically so you get maximum airflow through the cooler. If mounted behind the rad, the air would go through the rad first and get heated when it passes through the rad core. Mounting it under the car (keep in mind I can't see how it is mounted) makes me think it might be laying horizontally which does not sound good as far as air flow through the trans cooler. It should also be kept away from stuff like exhaust heat too.
The cooler is away from the exhaust. It is horizontal but it looks like that is how it is supposed to be installed. I am not sure exactly how much air flow it gets in its location. This is one of the reasons why I want to know the trans temp. Heck it may be working just grand where it is. I may have to install something more I am not sure, but this is what I want to find out.
Again thanks for your input guys. I have lots to think about for installation wise over the winter months so that by spring time the hot rod will be ready for cruising.
What my trans guy does, and so do I, is put the sender in the lines. Specifically the line going TO the cooler. Max transmission fluid life is at 175 degrees. Above that its lifespan rapidly shortens. At about 260 degrees it scorches and no longer has the same friction properties.
You want to know the hottest the fluid gets, not the average of the system - which is what a temp sender in the pan does.
